Bioremediation blanket and method of use

Abstract

Bioremediation blanket including: top layer adapted to capture and remove material floating in water and to contain material removed from water on blanket and to allow hydrocarbons to flow through top layer to the interior of blanket; interior with microbes adapted to digest hydrocarbons and optionally containing support for the microbes and/or optionally containing material to absorb heavy metals present in interior layer; and bottom layer comprising monofilament woven layer adapted to release bioremediated water. Method for removing hydrocarbons from water by: providing bioremediation blanket; allowing water containing hydrocarbons to contact and penetrate the blanket; and allowing microbes within the blanket to digest the hydrocarbons. Method for pressure washing boats by: providing bioremediation blanket; placing the blanket, top side up, underneath a boat; pressure washing the boat and allowing water containing hydrocarbons generated by pressure washing to contact and penetrate the blanket; and allowing microbes within the blanket to digest the hydrocarbons.

1 . A bioremediation blanket comprising:
 a top layer of an oleophilic nonwoven geotextile fabric adapted to capture and remove material floating in water and to contain the material removed from the water on the blanket and to allow hydrocarbons to flow through the top layer to an interior of the blanket;   a bottom layer of geotextile fabric comprising a woven monofilament layer adapted to release water from which hydrocarbons have been removed; and   microbes adapted to digest hydrocarbons, said microbes being provided on or within the top layer and/or between the top layer and the bottom layer.   
   
   
       2 . The bioremediation blanket of  claim 1 , comprising:
 an interior layer which comprises said microbes and a polymeric or agricultural product substrate support for the microbes and which optionally comprises a material to absorb heavy metals present in the interior layer.   
   
   
       3 . The bioremediation blanket of  claim 2 , which contains a polymeric foam substrate support for the microbes. 
   
   
       4 . The bioremediation blanket of  claim 1 , which contains bentonite clay, carbon, zeolite, or chitosan to absorb copper, lead, zinc, or paint chips. 
   
   
       5 . The bioremediation blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the blanket comprised of layers of geotextile fabrics and microbes is needle punched. 
   
   
       6 . The bioremediation blanket of  claim 1 , wherein top layer a) has a flow rate of at least about 70 gallons per minute per square foot. 
   
   
       7 . The bioremediation blanket of  claim 6 , wherein top layer a) has a flow rate of approximately 80 gallons per minute per square foot. 
   
   
       8 . The bioremediation blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom layer c) comprises a woven polypropylene monofilament fabric. 
   
   
       9 . The bioremediation blanket of  claim 1 , wherein bottom layer c) has a flow rate of at least about 15 gallons per minute per square foot. 
   
   
       10 . The bioremediation blanket of  claim 9 , wherein bottom layer c) has a flow rate of approximately 18 gallons per minute per square foot. 
   
   
       11 . The bioremediation blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the top layer has an upright border extending along its entire perimeter, adapted to contain water, barnacles, paint chips, and sediments. 
   
   
       12 . The bioremediation blanket of  claim 11 , wherein the perimeter border is configured to contain an internal member which imparts rigidity to the border. 
   
   
       13 . The bioremediation blanket of  claim 1 , configured with two or more handles to facilitate handling and moving the blanket. 
   
   
       14 . The bioremediation blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the microbes are in the form of a tablet, powder, or liquid. 
   
   
       15 . The bioremediation blanket of  claim 3 , wherein the microbes are located on and/or within said polymeric foam, and said polymeric foam is positioned on an interior side of one of the layers of the blanket or between two layers of the blanket. 
   
   
       16 . The bioremediation blanket of  claim 15 , wherein the microbe-containing foam is attached inside of the top layer of the blanket. 
   
   
       17 . The bioremediation blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the microbes are located within a gap between the top layer and the bottom layer of the fabric. 
   
   
       18 . The bioremediation blanket of  claim 1 , wherein no enzymes are present in the microorganism preparation. 
   
   
       19 . The bioremediation blanket of  claim 1 , wherein nutrients for the microbes are added to the blanket. 
   
   
       20 . A method for removing hydrocarbons from water, which comprises:
 providing a bioremediation blanket in accordance with  claim 1 ;   allowing water containing hydrocarbons to contact and penetrate the blanket; and   allowing the microbes within the bioremediation blanket to digest the hydrocarbons.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising removing material floating in the water and retaining the material removed from the water on the blanket. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising allowing water, from which hydrocarbons and dissolved metals have been removed, to flow out of the blanket. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said bioremediation blanket is provided, top side up, underneath an engine compartment of a parked motor vehicle, or is provided on a rooftop garden. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising removing material from the blanket in order to clean and reuse the blanket. 
   
   
       25 . A method for pressure washing a boat, which comprises:
 providing a bioremediation blanket in accordance with  claim 1 ;   placing said bioremediation blanket, top side up, underneath a boat;   pressure washing said boat and allowing water containing hydrocarbons generated by said pressure washing to contact and penetrate the blanket; and   allowing the microbes within the bioremediation blanket to digest said hydrocarbons.